Hungarians turned out in record numbers on April 12 in a closely fought parliamentary election that could bring an end to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule and reshape the country’s relationship with the European Union.

By mid-afternoon, voter turnout had already exceeded 66%, according to data from the national election commission quoted by Euronews, a sharp increase from the previous election four years ago. By 5:00 p.m. local time, participation had climbed to more than 74%, setting a new record.

Orbán, leader of the nationalist Fidesz party, welcomed the strong turnout after casting his ballot in Budapest. 

“The peace and security of Hungary can depend on one vote today. This is a decision that cannot be undone tomorrow,” the prime minister wrote on Facebook after casting his vote. “We must defend Hungary today! Today, no patriot should stay at home!” 

His main challenger, opposition leader Péter Magyar of the Tisza party, also urged Hungarians to vote. 

“Record turnout! The last minute and every vote counts!” he wrote on Facebook. 

“Please go vote, or if you have already gone, call all your acquaintances, friends and relatives who you suspect have not yet left! The government is in its final hours, we are standing at the gates of regime change. Let's enter it!” 

The election is widely seen as the toughest test of Orbán’s long grip on power since he returned to office in 2010 with a landslide victory. Over the years, his government has consolidated control over key institutions, including the judiciary, and rewritten the constitution, while building a loyal political and economic elite.

Recent opinion polls suggested a narrowing race, with some indicating a late surge for Tisza. The outcome could hinge on a handful of tightly contested districts, where margins are expected to be razor-thin.

Orbán intensified his campaign message in the final hours before the vote, warning that Hungary’s peace and security were at stake. In a social media post, he told supporters that “we have to defend Hungary,” echoing a campaign narrative that portrays the opposition as a risk to national stability.

Fidesz has focused heavily on foreign policy themes, particularly the war in Ukraine, accusing the opposition of aligning with external interests and potentially drawing Hungary into conflict. The Tisza party has rejected these claims.

Magyar’s campaign, by contrast, has centred on domestic concerns, including the rising cost of living, economic stagnation, and the state of public services such as healthcare and education. He has positioned himself as a reformer, pledging to tackle corruption and restore access to EU funds that have been frozen over rule-of-law disputes.

His party has also proposed joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, a move it says would strengthen oversight and transparency.

The campaign has been marked by a series of controversies, including alleged intelligence operations targeting the opposition and the release of sensitive recordings involving senior officials, adding to an already tense political climate.

Supporters from both camps began gathering in central Budapest as polls remained open, according to local media reports, awaiting results that could determine whether Hungary continues on its current path or embarks on a political reset.